"He was one of the most mentally tough kids I've ever met in my life. He has a big place in my heart." -- Brian Leonard on Sean Martyn

In the weeks leading up to last year's Rally at the Alley,
Sean Martyn was confined to a wheelchair.

A second recurrence of cancer had sapped much of Martyn's
physical strength, but it couldn't dampen his vivacious personality.

The Rally at the Alley, an annual bowling fundraiser hosted
by former Rutgers star Brian Leonard benefitting the Embrace Kids Foundation, was
a highlight on Martyn's calendar from the time he was diagnosed with cancer in October
2010 at age 17. Leonard's co-chair at last year's event, Martyn had no
intention of delivering his keynote speech from a wheelchair.

"Sean just had this light inside that if he felt he had to do
something, he did it," said Joyce Martyn, Sean's mother. "I don't know how he
was walking. It was beyond my realm of reason how he was doing it, but he did.
It was just very important to him to help the kids that were treated right
along with him. He was very serious about paying it forward."

Martyn lost his battle with cancer six weeks after the
event, passing away on May 7. The Brick Township native was 19 years old.

"When someone tells you that your child has cancer, you have
no clue what is ahead of you," Joyce said. "It's incredible what (Embrace Kids)
does and the direction that they steer you in, and the psychological part of it
too, making sure that you have help there and support."

Leonard has raised more than $250,000 for Embrace Kids in
the first four years of his bowling fundraiser. The event features 20-25 former
Rutgers stars and current NFL players, who bowl alongside pediatric cancer
patients.

"All these kids are stricken with cancer, a horrible
disease, and just for that one night they get to forget about it and put a
smile on their face," said Leonard, a seven-year NFL veteran. "They really
enjoy the night, and that's the best part for me. All the NFL guys that go love
it and they get a lot out of it."

Leonard first met Martyn during a visit to Robert Wood
Johnson University Hospital before the 2011 Rally at the Alley and they struck
an immediate bond.

"I ended up getting real close with Sean," Leonard said. "He
was a great kid. He was brave. He was one of the most mentally tough kids I've
ever met in my life. It's just crazy how strong he was. He has a big place in
my heart."

Leonard, former Rutgers teammate Kevin Malast and current
Rutgers coach Kyle Flood visited Martyn in the hospital, where discussions
mostly centered on football and rarely focused on his treatment. Martyn also
received a tour of the football facility and was a regular at Rutgers sporting
events.

"He just had such a love for football and everything that
it's about that he just connected with the Rutgers players and Coach Flood,"
Joyce said. "It was just a common thing. It was a really important part of his
treatment."

Leonard, Malast and other former Rutgers players stayed in
contact with Martyn. They followed him on Twitter, and Eric LeGrand and Martyn
offered each other encouragement.

"He wasn't worried about himself," Leonard said. "He was
more worried about other people and how they felt and how his family felt. You
never heard him complain. He never talked about himself, it was always about
other people and how he wanted to help other people."

Martyn received a bone marrow transplant from his older
brother Jimbo in the summer of 2012. Shortly after the procedure, Martyn
learned that the cancer had returned a second time. It was a tough blow, but it
didn't affect Martyn's outlook.

Martyn requested a family trip to Disney World so he could
share the experience with his nephew Logan. Soon after the Martyns returned
home, Brick was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. Martyn sprung into action, devoting
his time to delivering food, blankets and clothing to victims.

"I literally just saw him to come home and take his medication
and out he would go again," Joyce said. "It was just him. He was that kind of
guy."

A BITTERSWEET TRIBUTE

Joyce Martyn said her son could barely break 100, but that
didn't diminish his enjoyment of bowling.

"He was the worst bowler, but for some reason he would do
this move where he would bowl and go right between his legs and always get a
strike," Joyce said with a laugh. "He did it and had all these witnesses last
year. Everybody was impressed. It was his signature move."

Joyce has never been to the Rally at the Alley, as Sean
described it as his "man night" and would bring his father, brother and
friends. Joyce will attend for the first time Friday night with family and
friends, reuniting her with many of the people who offered support during
Sean's treatment.

"I just can't say enough about Rutgers and Brian Leonard and
what they did for my son," Joyce said. "They're beautiful people. I love them
as family. They loved Sean and he loved them. Sean was all about good karma and
giving back. They let him do that and he loved it. They got him through a lot
of things. I'm forever grateful."

Friday night will be a bittersweet experience, but Joyce
said she's moving past her grief and wants to begin to honor her son's joyful
life.

"It's hard still, but at the same time, his biggest thing
was to laugh and embrace it," Joyce said. "That's what we want to do. It's time
to start smiling again."